With their Concacaf Champions Cup dreams in the balance, Vancouver Whitecaps FC provided one of the most dramatic moments in club history.
The in-form Canadian side eliminated LIGA MX's Pumas UNAM to reach the CCC semifinals, with Tristan Blackmon's 93rd-minute strike delivering a 2-2 draw in Wednesday's Leg 2 quarterfinal clash in Mexico City. The goal sealed a 3-3 aggregate scoreline that sends Vancouver into the next round on away goals, where they'll meet Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF.
With the series level at 1-1 after Leg 1 at BC Place, Vancouver's Sebastian Berhalter opened Wednesday's scoring in spectacular fashion. The 23-year-old got on the end of Daniel Ríos' cross, acrobatically adjusting mid-jump to backheel the ball past goalkeeper Álex Padilla.
Just four minutes later, Pumas pulled level through Guillermo Martínez. The veteran striker took advantage of a momentary lapse from Vancouver, pouncing on a scuffed clearance following a corner kick to find the net from close range.
Vancouver appeared headed for a heartbreaking exit when Ignacio Pussetto buried his own rebound in the 88th minute, positioning Pumas to advance. But Blackmon cemented himself in Whitecaps lore when he smashed home a volley from close range deep into second-half stoppage time (90+3'), finishing Édier Ocampo's cross with gusto.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: What a win. The Whitecaps lead the MLS Western Conference and Supporters' Shield standings, and they’ve carried that form into continental competition. They had never beaten a LIGA MX side in Concacaf play before this season, and now they’ve downed two giants back-to-back: Pumas and CF Monterrey, both on away goals after 3-3 aggregate scorelines. Things keep improving under new head coach Jesper Sørensen.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Defeat seemed certain, but the Whitecaps didn’t get the memo.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Fantastic at both ends of the pitch, and the scorer of the series-winning goal, makes Blackmon the obvious choice.
Next Up
- VAN: Saturday, April 12 vs. Austin FC | 7:30 pm ET (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+) | MLS Regular Season
- PUM: Saturday, April 12 vs. FC Juárez | 7 pm ET | LIGA MX Clausura
